Recently, after a decade of self-employment, I’ve returned to the full-time workplace. My family and friends were largely supportive. My sister’s words capture the feeling best: “I’m somewhere between ‘Congrats’ and ‘You crazy fool’,” she said.

Yes, well.

Self-employment is definitely one of those “grass is greener” scenarios. Those who aren’t self-employed long for what they rightly perceive as the benefits – flexibility, autonomy, freedom to choose what to do and what not to do.

What they don’t see is the downside – the challenge of balancing weeks of more work than you can reasonably do with the weeks where even the sound of crickets would be a welcome change. The temptation to paint the bedroom instead of finishing that proposal. The snow days. The interruptions in income. The relentless business development. The loneliness.

It was the loneliness that finally got me.

With my kids aging out of the mommy league, and my decision a few years ago to focus my professional life on writing – a beloved, but solitary pursuit – I was spending way too much time staring at the walls. I needed peers. I needed a place to go every day. I needed to feel like part of a team. So I found myself a job.

But the transition back to work has had its challenges. During April, I’ll be cataloging my survival tips for working parents. Some are useful, and some are downright silly, but they work for me.

Oh, and if you have something to contribute (especially if it is later in the alphabet and/or starts with a problematic letter like X) feel free to comment.

Get a lot of calendars, or maybe just have one online and on paper that you refer to. Be sure there’s a line item for yourself – as in exercise, journal, read. Pencil, no ink that time in for yourself and follow it to the letter. You’ll need it when you’re completely depleted, and that day will come!

Networking…I reached out to a contact I’d met through a colleague when I saw the job posted and all the pieces fell into place. Also, this is staffed on a contract-to-hire basis, which I think is a good option for BOTH parties when you are reentering the FT workforce after an extended period. Definitely explore that option if you can.

What a great theme! I subscribed to your blog and I’m really looking forward to reading all of your tips! I’m a single Dad with custody of my 11 year old son. I work full time. And I’m still figuring things out every day!

This is a great theme you have! I do agree about the loneliness of being self employed and working at home. I work at home (not self employed now but was before) and I do miss the companionship of a work place (but not the drama, LOL 🙂 Good luck with the challenge!